General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Nothing else is a Harley

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 09:10 PM
  #11  
Cosmic Razorback's Avatar
Cosmic Razorback
Club Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Active Streak: 30 Days
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,773
Likes: 23,000
From: North Carolina
Riders Club Member
Default

Harley Davidson

An American ICON sought after around the world!

If I had to put it in one word it would be "Cool".

In my boating world the name is "Cigarette" and the Mercs are big blocks!

Ride safe.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:26 PM
  #12  
Nickatnyt's Avatar
Nickatnyt
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 123
From: Spokane, WA
Default

Originally Posted by philly48
I didn't understand the Harley allure until I bought one. For me it's the rawness, sound, legendary status, and the pure Americana that comes with owning and riding one.
Ditto, and add the exceptional fit and finish, the dealer network, and (most of) the Harley community.

Oh yeah, and the bikes seem to have some sort of 'soul', but that might just be my imagination.
 
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2017 | 10:31 PM
  #13  
FunGramps's Avatar
FunGramps
Banned
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 1,545
From: someplace
Default

Originally Posted by DM426
Nothing else is a Harley. Nothing else is a KTM. Nothing else is a BMW. Nothing else is a Ducati...

They each bring something unique and special to the table.
Good point. Vintage Ducs make me drool...and about every vintage Italian bike made.

Originally Posted by Nickatnyt
Ditto, and add the exceptional fit and finish, the dealer network, and (most of) the Harley community.

Oh yeah, and the bikes seem to have some sort of 'soul', but that might just be my imagination.
IMO Harley history helps to give it that soul.
 

Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Jun 14, 2017 at 09:07 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 03:23 AM
  #14  
Tarkus60's Avatar
Tarkus60
Road Warrior
Veteran: Marine Corps
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
Default

I have always been a motorcycle fanatic ...I am 57. From my first 1971 CB450 to today.
Many bikes in between.
Nothing has moved me like this road king has. I cant decide what its....
I have had fast Kawasaki's and they just don't have the soul the Harley does.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 03:32 AM
  #15  
LoneWoolf's Avatar
LoneWoolf
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 2,726
Likes: 717
From: Pennsyleffinvania
Default

Originally Posted by u wish u could ride
I would rather be riding a hayabusa but @ 55 I cant keep up with the bike the way its ment to be ridden....
Okay, but at 67, my Harley can't keep up with me.

My Suzuki Bandit 1250S does a pretty good job, but pale's in comparison to the Busa that I will grant you is beyond me, and probably always was.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 05:47 AM
  #16  
T Man's Avatar
T Man
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
Likes: 64
From: Manitoba, Canada
Default

I too owned several Yamaha and Honda cruisers before getting a 2012 Road King a year ago. When I dropped off the Honda I was riding and rode home 2 hours on the Road King, I could feel a quality difference. The RK held the road better, was smoother, was more comfortable. Fit me like a glove. When I got the bike home, oil leak which turned out to be a seal which likely had dried out from the bike sitting for a long time. Recently just changed the voltage regulator after getting codes for overcharging. Neither were big deals, but in comparison I never touched my previous metrics other than oil changes and tires. The metrics are top of the game in terms of reiliabililty imo, but I still wouldn't go back. HD has done a great job over the years developing their brand, especially coming out of the 70's when there were all kinds of reiliability issues during the AMF years. There is a mystique surrounding HD's that no company is ever likely going to rival. And yes, I too love the solid feel of the RK being made out of steel, I always hated all the plastic that is found on the metrics.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 05:55 AM
  #17  
Back-n-Black's Avatar
Back-n-Black
Road Warrior
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 439
From: Texas
Default

My SG is my 3rd bike and while the Harleys are stupid expensive I doubt I would buy another brand. To me Harley's just feel right....
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 05:57 AM
  #18  
HKMark23's Avatar
HKMark23
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Default

Harley Davidson = "the great American road experience". You buy into it when you buy the brand. Even those who publicly eschew the clothes, HOG, and other trappings can't get away from that fact. Overstated and under-functioning as it may indeed be, Harley Davidson is (North) America's motorcycle and when you own one, you own all that goes with it,,, and we love it !
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 06:04 AM
  #19  
wideglideCVO's Avatar
wideglideCVO
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5,627
Likes: 1,382
From: Monroe, North Carolina
Default

My first Harley my 2002 WG to me I am privileged to ride it. Love it, love the sound, the power and the looks.
 
Reply
Old Jun 14, 2017 | 07:53 AM
  #20  
FatboysFatboy96's Avatar
FatboysFatboy96
Seasoned HDF Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 11,772
Likes: 41,407
From: Marion NC / Lake Norman NC / Panama City Fla
Default

Originally Posted by T Man
I too owned several Yamaha and Honda cruisers before getting a 2012 Road King a year ago. When I dropped off the Honda I was riding and rode home 2 hours on the Road King, I could feel a quality difference. The RK held the road better, was smoother, was more comfortable. Fit me like a glove. When I got the bike home, oil leak which turned out to be a seal which likely had dried out from the bike sitting for a long time. Recently just changed the voltage regulator after getting codes for overcharging. Neither were big deals, but in comparison I never touched my previous metrics other than oil changes and tires. The metrics are top of the game in terms of reiliabililty imo, but I still wouldn't go back. HD has done a great job over the years developing their brand, especially coming out of the 70's when there were all kinds of reiliability issues during the AMF years. There is a mystique surrounding HD's that no company is ever likely going to rival. And yes, I too love the solid feel of the RK being made out of steel, I always hated all the plastic that is found on the metrics.
I had the opposite experience with the metrics. I bought my first bike, a Honda 1100, because I fell for the mantra that the Hondas were vastly more reliable and "you meet the nicest people on a Honda" Well when I went to bike events, the only folks that would talk with me were the Harley guys and gals. My Honda leaked oil and it left me stranded three times. I almost gave up riding then I got the Fatboy and after a few rides I kicked myself for not getting a Harley first.
Lesson learned...
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:03 PM.

story-0
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-4
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-6
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-7
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-8
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-9
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE